Lawrence Goodman: 1956-2010

McHenry's 'Super Fan Larry'

Avid supporter of high school's athletic teams

February 01, 2010|By Angie Leventis Lourgos, TRIBUNE REPORTER

A McHenry Warriors banner might be waving in heaven.

McHenry High School athletes lost their biggest fan Friday, Jan. 29, when Lawrence "Super Fan Larry" Goodman, 53, died of cancer in his McHenry home. Students and alumni said Mr. Goodman led the crowd with his zany antics and catchy chants at every football game, and he supported the lesser-known sports.

"He was like the spirit of McHenry or at least the spirit of McHenry sports," said Von Rogers, who graduated last year from McHenry High School-East Campus. "I feel like McHenry will never be the same. Something will always be missing."

Rogers was touched when Mr. Goodman -- equipped with his orange and black hat and megaphone -- cheered on Rogers and the rest of the water polo team at the state tournament in Barrington last spring.

"It made us feel so proud," Rogers said.

Mr. Goodman was born in El Paso, Texas, worked as a singing waiter in his early 20s in California, and moved to McHenry about 15 years ago, said his longtime friend, James Edmunds, of McHenry.

Edmunds said Mr. Goodman always loved football and played in high school. He worked several entertainment jobs, but much of his time was spent promoting McHenry student athletics to local businesses and supporting the players at games, Edmunds said.

"He was an outrageous guy," he said.

He was generous as well. Edmunds remembers a few times when Mr. Goodman literally gave away his last dollar to others in need.

A Facebook page in Mr. Goodman's memory had more than 2,300 members -- mainly students, former students and parents -- by Sunday evening.

"By now, everyone in heaven has received a set of thunder sticks and beads in beautiful orange and black," one man wrote.

Other posters remembered Mr. Goodman for his immaculate lawn, which he was known to trim with kitchen scissors.

Sarah Teuber, who graduated in 2007, mourns that football games won't be the same for future students. She wonders if games will be more somber now that he's gone.

Or perhaps everyone will "rally extra hard in his memory. They'll just carry on his legacy maybe and go crazy without him," she said.

Mr. Goodman is survived by his brother Allen and many nieces and nephews.